Synopsis: Jack Vessalius and Glen Baskerville, a third rate noble and an illusive powerful Duke, are friends, or at least that is what Jack believed. But when a foreign nobleman took an interest in Jack, a dark emotion swelled in Glen and a tragic play took place. ..

A/N: Okay, from where Retrace 65 onwards it is heading, Light and Dark is totally an AU fanfiction. Gilbert and Vincent remained as servants of Jack and the Vessalius family and the truth behind Lacie I will twist it to my liking before the Sabire tragedy occurred. But still, I might changed some points in the previous chapters here and there to fit the story better. But still, thanks to all who enjoyed this story and reviewed it and for Retrace 69, I only have one thing to say.

Glen/Revis, you are so troll, to think you imp******* your servant's sister for your experiment. But that is why we love you. Lol. Well, that is the universe of Pandora hearts. Tragedy with bittersweet and short-lived peace and happiness. Oh please let the end be a happy one for all somehow. T_T

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I don't own Pandora Hearts because if I did I will have known everything and cry in happiness and sadness. T_T

Light and Dark

A Pandora Hearts fan-fiction

Chapter4 - The calm before the storm (3)

"Have you heard?"

"A woman was killed last night, you know, that young blond haired one.."

"How terrible…"

"... Two weeks ago, there is another boy who went missing am I wrong?"

"He is also blond right?"

"… what is happening in Sabire?"

At a dark corner of an alley in the town square, a shadow disappeared into the darkness.

Walking through the dim corridors of the Baskerville mansion in a brand new morning, Charlotte Baskerville was feeling troubled.

It was strange for her to feel this way, especially when that Accursed Jack Vessalius had not been coming to the mansion to pester her beloved Master and her to the heavens for the past five days.

She should be rejoicing!

And yet... why did she miss that idiot's presence?

"Grr…. That idiotic, NARCISSISTIC Vessalius… I HOPE HE DOES NOT RETURN!" she seethed between her teeth as she lifted up the hems of her dress, walking faster to the library. At the turn to the left, she was about to walk forward when she came to a halt, her heart skipped a beat at the vision she was seeing in front of her.

Ma.. Master Glen?

Her beloved master was facing the wall silently, violet pools staring at something on the wall, searching. His bellowing signature cloak was wrapped around him as always, as though the mansion had always been cold.

What was he looking for, the pink haired Baskerville thought as she took a step back, her heart thumping quickly at the fact her Master was standing right in front of her.

"Charlotte."

"Eeep!" She covered her mouth, and blushed furiously at the sound she made in her surprise, "Ma… Master Glen. Good… Good Morning."

Her Master turned his head slightly to look at her and inside her mind, she was dancing in happiness. And there was NO Jack to interrupt this moment!

Her Master looked at the wall once more before facing her, emotionless violets looking at her and she froze under the emptiness she felt in his gaze.

"Did Jack Vessalius… come to find you or the other members lately?" The baritone voice resonated through the corridor softly and his strange question startled her.

"Jack Vessalius, Master?" She repeated that accursed man's name again, her eyes widening before standing straighter. "No Master Glen… We did not see him…" Besides, if Jack Vessalius ever do come to her, she will most likely pulled that accursed long braid to make him silent before he could even pull a rose in front of her face once again. Like an irritable fool as he was…

But… for Master Glen to ask of Jack, did something happened between the two of them?

Glen Baskerville closed his eyes before opening the cold violet eyes she always seen him with. "I see. Then be on your way Charlotte, the next task will be announced to the members soon." Without hearing her answer and a great turn of the cloak, her master walked away, leaving her staring her master's unapproachable back walking further from her.

"Master Glen…"

Charlotte pulled her laced hands in fists as her mind flashed warm emerald pools and gold.

Jack Vessalius… for you to make Master Glen this worried of your absence…

You idiot ORANGE! When you finally come back and visit again, I will definitely-

"ACHOO!"

Jack Vessalius sniffed as he shivered from a strange chill that ran down his spine. The weirdest thing was, it was a rather warm day at this moment. Jack rubbed his slightly red nose with his right hand before noticing two pairs of eyes boring behind him.

"Master, are you getting sick?" Gilbert asked, the worry in his tone made Jack smiled gently.

"It is nothing Gilbert, seems like someone must have been talking about me, a beautiful lady I believed… or perhaps the sender of the blue roses," the golden haired man winked as he looked to the younger of the two servants who was holding a bag of oranges that Jack bought at the fruit stall in the Sabier Market, where there were a huge variety of fruits and vegetables. Especially the more authentic kinds like strawberries and watermelons.

In his own bag that he carried, were parts of pocket watches that he discovered he had ran out in his workroom while doing his requests. Jack smiled at the thought of the old shopkeeper who always gave him discounts for the bulks of parts that he bought from his shop. Mainly, the old shopkeeper laughed amusedly, was of his beauty and smile that Jack had graced in his shop, which the Vessalius accepted graciously and with a blush each time he heard the same compliment in each visit.

He knew of the power of his looks, his family knew it too. That was why Old Lia always made the youngest Vessalius accompany her to buy groceries, where the stall keepers in the Market always gave lower prices for the items she picked after Jack's charming conversation with them. Old and young, men and women, no one could resist the Vessalius's charms.

All, except Glen Baskerville and the Baskerville family… well, mainly Charlotte. At the thought of the pink haired feisty lady, Jack laughed softly, much to the confusion of the two young servants. But when violet pools flashed in his mind, he paused in his stride.

It has been five days now since my last visit... it is obvious that I'm avoiding him...

… What am I hesitating for?

Is it because… I have begun to fear Glen?

Or is it because… I'm unsure of how to face him after such a long absence?

"Master?"

Jack sighed softly before giving a reassuring smile to the two brothers.

I… can't keep running away from Glen… can I..

"Vincent, Gilbert… what do you say… that we visit the Baskerville Mansion tomorrow?"

To the Vessalius's utmost surprise, his servants' faces lit up at the question .

"Yes Master!"

A lilting laughter filled the air as Jack shook his head at their answer. "To think you both like the Baskerville Mansion that much? I am quite surprise to know that." Gilbert's cheeks reddened and looked to the bag of apples he was holding.

"That is because Master… looks really sad ever since you returned from the Mansion… and you always locked yourself in the working room… So we are glad…" The black haired child hesitantly said his feelings, and his cheeks bloomed into a bright red at the sight of his master's widened jade eyes. Jack covered his gaping mouth before turning away from the boys. He continued to walk to the sweet shop he had frequented, his mind in hyperdrive with questions.

Am I that readable? Did I look that depressed for Gilbert and little Vincent to be this worried for me? Then… those concerned looks from Rai and Orphile for the past few days… they knew?

Ahhh…. I knew there had to be a problem when Old Lia suddenly started cooking my favorite sweet orange pancakes that none in my family would normally eat for breakfast lately…

"Master! Wait for us!," Gilbert chased after his master in large steps as much as his small feet could carry him to shorten the distance his master had created, Vincent too followed with worried eyes. Jack snapped out from his mind and stopped, letting his two servants catch up to him.

"… I'm sorry Gilbert, Vincent… for my behavior for these past few days… I have been a bad master, haven't I?" Jack tried to smile but his face looks rather forced and weird. Gilbert and Vincent immediately shook their heads rapidly and their hands grabbed Jack's cloak.

"Master! You're not!" Vincent cried, his mismatched eyes filled with fire at what his master had said, "You saved us from the streets and gave us food, shelter and warmth, you have always been taking care of us and always so kind to us!"

"Even when we did not do our servant duties properly, you always forgave us… we are the bad servants Master! Seeing Master so sad and yet unable to make the sadness go away... we have failed in our duties…" Gilbert continued; his golden eyes teary. Jack, upon seeing the tears forming and raining down, became startled.

"Gilbert, Vincent, you are both not at fault… I guess, we both have been pretty bad master and servants, haven't we," Jack smiled sadly as he bent down to place the bag on the stone tiled floor, before wrapping his arms around the boys tightly. The two servants sank into his embrace and their tears soaked into the cloak.

"Master.. we're sor-"

A gloved finger silenced Gilbert's lips. "Let's stop apologizing to each other, we have said enough sorry… Tomorrow, we will go to the Baskerville Mansion and visit Glen. I will introduce the two of you to him. Together. " Jack smiled warmly, patting the boys' head affectionately. Upon receiving toothy teary smiles from his servants, the young Vessalius almost wanted to cry. For himself… for being such a coward and causing worry to the people who are around him… and what about Glen?

Seeing that he had not been visiting the Mansion like always and that strange farewell, Jack was afraid that Glen would…

Jack paused at this thought, what would Glen do? He would not get angry or lonely because of his absence right? Angry? Glen? Lonely?

Jack smiles at that thought. In all of his two years of knowing Glen, he always find Glen either busy or sleeping somewhere in the forest or in the library, with birds flocking to him as though bees to a flower. Though he could read most of Glen's expressions, which has never failed to surprise the duke, he had never seen an expression of loneliness on his face before.

Anguish… Despair… Anger…

Jack had seen them, but loneliness… he himself had yet to experience… but Glen? As a duke, did he ever felt lonely? Especially with such a wonderful… family and loved by Charlotte and the rest of the Baskerville members… Each time he visited the mansion he rarely saw the duke hang around or even talked to the Baskerville members… Why would Glen isolate himself?

Jade eyes softened as a name resonated in his mind. Lacie…

Perhaps, only in her presence… he would truly be himself… without the mask of society and the mask of Glen Baskerville…

"Master? I… we are in public…" Gilbert wheezed, as the child blushed greatly from the attention of the passersby who were glancing, a hint of a smile was on their faces. Jack laughed and let go of the boys, ignoring the stares and glances and straightening his attire. Taking the small hands of his servants gently, the trio walked hand in hand to the sweet shop with renewed vigor.

Unbeknownst to Jack, behind the shadows, a cloaked being was observing him.

Every laugh, every bright sparkle seen in the emerald eyes, every shine of the golden hair… and a deep desire grew within the being...

"Ah! Lord Vessalius! You have graced us with your presence!" A hearty voice greeted the trio as they entered the busy shop. The young Vessalius perked at the voice and gave a charming smile.

"Good morning Old Poe," Jack greeted back, Gilbert and Vincent did a short bow to the jolly looking man. The other customers who saw Jack, especially the ladies giggled at the sight of the young Vessalius. Jack spent no time greeting the ladies, giving a kiss on their hands equally and chatting of their day.

"Lord Jack," A brunette peasant lady young of age, smiled prettily as Jack turned his attention to her, "have you heard of the strange deaths occurring in the outskirts of Sabire?"

"I heard of them, thus far six victims found..." Another replied excitedly.

"Dreadful isn't it, such tragedy…" The ladies' hushed voices spread in the shop.

"Oh? Do tell my lady," Jack's curiosity grew, for he had not stepped outside the mansion and in contact with any 'news' for the past few days. The young lady lowered her voice as the rest of the ladies huddled closer together with Jack, "Well, for the past few weeks, there are deaths and disappearances, particularly of blonde haired peasants and prostitutes… I heard from the guards of the police, that the victims all have their insides devoured clean-"

"Alright, alright. Enough of such dreadful news in my shop on such a beautiful day my dear customers," The brown haired bearded Poe interrupted, his hands held a tray of freshly made sweets of raspberries and brown sugar. Jack laughed at the wink the man had given to him and understood what he had to do.

"I agreed with the sweet maker, my ladies. Though I wish I can hear more of such news." With a flick of his hand, Jack brought out a couple of blue roses as though from thin air. The ladies gasped and giggled as Jack handed out a stalk to each of them before leaving them a beautiful smile. "Let us end this and not let anymore of such dreadful news stop us from enjoying this wonderful morning. I bid you ladies good day."

After the ladies left with a rather charmed look on their faces, Poe looked to the young Vessalius and shook his head in defeat. "Lord Vessalius, only you could make my customers leave my shop with satisfaction other than my sweets."

"Why thank you my dear sir," Jack grinned as he glanced to his servants, who looked rather rumpled from the touches of the ladies who found them adorable, "It is my life's duty to ensure every lady has a smile on their face. But only your sweets can put a smile on my face all day."

"Lord Vessalius, you truly are a great charmer, be it to men or women," Poe chuckled, "But sadly that does not mean you will get a discount of my sweets. So may I know what you and your young servants wish to buy from my humble shop?"

The young Vessalius began his list with Poe, occasionally talking of the sales of his sweets and also any gossips the old man heard from the ladies. Vincent and Gilbert sat on the only couch in the shop, munching on Poe's latest creation with delight, keeping their shopping bags close to them. Mismatched and gold pairs of eyes followed their bubbly master's every movement as Poe weighted and put the requested sweets in beautifully crafted paper boxes.

Jack popped another of Poe's new creation into his mouth, savoring the orange and cinnamon blooming on his tongue with a thoughtful look. I wonder if Glen will enjoy this… as an apology of my absence…

"Poe, can I have a hundred grams of these new sweets?" Jack asked after much thought and the said man looked up, a raised eyebrow was on his face. "I understand Lord Vessalius, but these are a lot of sweets for one to buy. Pardon me but are some of the sweets meant to be gifts?"

"Yes they are. Well, half of them are meant for a family and its members. The head of the family is a friend of mine and most of them, especially the ladies of the house, enjoyed sweets." Jack answered, smiling at the thought of Lotti, Lily and Alice.

Poe smiled and proceeded to weight his new sweets, whereas Jack turned to his servants, who looked a little sleepy from the wait. After packing all the sweets, Poe placed them in a huge paper bag and handed the package to Jack.

"Thank you Old Poe. I cannot not wait for your newest sweets once again," Jack smiled gratefully as he handed a piece of sliver. Poe looked at Jack intensely before waving to the young man to come closer. Jack, with a questioning look, came closer until he was about an inch away from Old Poe.

"Well Lord Vessalius, be cautious on the streets of Sabire," Poe whispered, "Lately, all who had blonde or mustard hair have been taking precautions for fear that the next victim will be them. The killer is still out there and the police had not find any clue on the identity of the murderer. Be careful dear sir, best not to go out at night if possible. The ladies and I will be sad if anything happens to you."

"…I will keep your advice at heart my dear friend," Jack replied softly and turned to his servants who perked at the attention of their master. "Come now, Gilbert, Vincent. Let's head back home."

"Yes Master! Goodbye Mister Poe."

"Goodbye young ones! And watch over your master carefully," Poe laughed warmly, ushering and waving them off from the door. Gilbert and Vincent looked at each other before following their master behind.

Poe was about to close the door when a figure caught his attention in a dark corner opposite his shop, before disappearing into the darkness.

The man rubbed his eyes before hesitantly closing the door, leaving a lingering wary look outside.

"Night is arriving soon…" Jack whispered as he took in the multitude of purples, orange and red of the sky. Sabire's night life was about to start, as the food stalls and restaurants prepared for the dinner crowds.

"Master, we should hurry back," Gilbert said in a panic voice, realizing the amount of time they had spent outside.

"Lia would punish us if we are late for dinner!" Vincent continued, dreading the idea of the old lady's punishment. Jack laughed at the faces they were making, before noticing a group of children running towards them.

Jack smiled at the passing group before realizing a young girl of around ten was standing before him.

"Master?" The two servants, who stopped behind Jack, looked at the girl curiously, whereas Jack gave his usual Vessalius smile and bent down, so that their eye levels were the same.

"Yes?"

The slightly plump, brown haired girl gave a pretty smile before holding out an orange rose wrapped with a beautiful maroon silk ribbon in her hand. "This is for you Mister!"

Jade eyes widened as he took the rose gently, his heart took a skip. Another rose? This time, an orange one? Another rare grown rose with a silk ribbon?

"Thank you… may I know your name?" Jack asked and the girl blushed at the gentleness of his voice. "Rosalie…"

"Thank you Rosalie, may I know who ask you to give me this?" The young Vessalius looked at his surroundings from the corner of his eyes, looking for anyone he might have a clue who might send this rose. A person of noble status… who has the capacity to afford this… could it be the same man who sent him the blue roses?

Rosalie shook her head. Knowing he could not get any more information from the young girl, from inside his overcoat, he revealed a stalk of blue rose and gave it to the blushing girl. After seeing the girl ran back to the group of children, Jack noticed a hooded figure standing in the shadows and the next thing he knew, he instinctively stood up and ran to the figure. The figure noticed Jack coming to him and disappeared into the darkness.

"Master!"

"Master! Wait! Where are you going?"

The two servants cried out as they saw Jack sprint to an alley, leaving them behind with the bags. Gilbert looked at Vincent, golden eyes scared as Vincent's mismatched eyes took in what had just happened.

"Brother, I will chase after Master and bring him back, you wait here-" The younger boy was about to follow after his master but was held back by the older, shaking his head wildly at the idea.

"No Vincent! We should not separate from each other! I..If not, when Master Jack comes back and you are gone…" Vincent looked to Gilbert and looked back to the direction of his master. "Then what should we do brother?" Vincent asked in defeat but the older boy could not think of any solution.

Master… Be careful…

All he could hear was his heart thumping against his chest rapidly and his attire flailing against the wind as his legs pushed harder to catch up to the hooded figure. The corridors of the alleys were narrow and winding but Jack pushed through with a strange desire, the desire to know the truth.

That person, could it be? The sender of the orange rose? Why go through all these secrecy to send me the roses?

"WAIT!" Jack clutched the orange rose tighter in his hand as he cried out for the person, "Are you the one who sent me the orange rose? And the blue roses for these past few days? Stop!"

The hooded figure did not stop, but seemed to gain more speed. Jack clenched his teeth and too sped up, following towards another dim corridor lit by only the sun's light. After passing through that corridor, Jack found himself coming out of the alley and into an open atrium, where there was a small festival held at the center.

"A festival?" Jack exclaimed in surprise as he tried to catch his breath from the run, jade eyes looking around frantically for any sight of the hooded figure within the mask wearing crowd.

Where is he? Where is he?

The sounds of music floated in the air as Jack passed by every masked individual, his blond braids occasionally smacking against another stranger. But all he could see in his vision were multitude of colors and masks that spun around him. Jack slapped his face, trying to concentrate amidst all of this commotion around him and looked around once again.

There!

A glimpse of a cloak at the west alley and Jack sprint to the direction.

"Stop! Please!"

But all he could see was the pure blackness of the dark alley in front of him. Jack stood before the entrance, hesitant.

An illusion? Was I imagining it? The young Vessalius wondered as he looked on into the never ending darkness. The darkness that reminded him of the Abyss his mother used to tell him about when he was a child…

Jack… be careful not to let yourself be caught and drag into the Abyss… if you do any wrong deeds, the guardians of the abyss will take you away…

But Glen said otherwise. In fact it was a 'beautiful world bathed in golden light'… from his eyes.

Jack shook his head, trying to return back to his objective and went away from the alley. Walking towards the dancing area and feeling slightly weary, Jack felt for the first time being helpless, before realizing what he had done before that.

What the hell are you doing Jack Vessalius? You actually left Vincent and Gilbert by themselves? Oh dear… what kind of a master am I! Glen will have shake his head if he heard of this...

Jack brought up the orange rose up to his vision and looked up to the darkening sky, letting out a painful sigh. I better head back… Vincent and Gilbert must be worried sick of me… And tomorrow… I will visit Glen and Alice again…

No more running away…

Uncaring of the masked dancers around him, Jack just stood and relaxed, letting the wind blew on his saddened face. From amidst the crowd, a hand reached out to him slowly, inching closer and closer with his fingertips...

Just a bit more..

Yes...

Just a bit more and-

"JACK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Jack snapped out from his thoughts and turned to the direction of the voice. A shout was heard as a scrawny looking man was being pinned down flat to the ground by Raymond Nightray, much to the surprise of the dancers and Jack himself.

"Raymond? What are you doing here?"

The Nightray duke glared at the oblivious noble before forcing the stranger up. "What do you want from this man, SPEAK UP or I will MAKE YOU speak up!" He growled and Jack began to panic.

"Wait Raymond, what is going on?"

The scrawny man broke down under the fiery glare of the duke and confessed, "I… I'm JUST A LOWLY THIEF! I just want to steal the pouch of this man that was all! Please don't kill me…"

Raymond stared at the thief intensely before letting out a breath. Turning to the stunned crowd, the duke handed the man to a duo of burly looking peasants. "Take him to the police and make sure he gets his due reward for his confession," Raymond ordered and the duo gladly did so, dragging the wailing thief away. The crowd cheered at the arrest of the thief and the festival resumed with more to celebrate of. Raymond, ensuring that no attention was on them, took Jack's hand and pulled him back to the route the Vessalius ran from.

"Raymond… I-"

"You are LUCKY that it was only a thief Vessalius! What are you doing, running away from your servants like that?" The Nightray growled as Jack gave a sheepish grin, letting the Nightray pull him.

"… I thought I could find my answers here…" Jack answered, holding the orange rose up to his chest and Raymond raised a questionable eyebrow. The duke glanced at the orange rose but said nothing. Jack smiled wearily.

"Raymond, thank you."

Feeling a slight heat rising to his cheeks, the Nightray slapped Jack's hand away. At this action, Jack chuckled and followed Nightray behind.

"But Raymond, why are you here in the market though? I thought for a duke like you, usually you will send your butler to settle business in the market?"

"I was under orders to observe someone. And I found you there about to be a victim of a worthless thief."

"Oh? Who?" Jack asked curiously but his curiosity was forgotten at the sight of his two young servants running to him, tears flowing down their faces.

"MASTER!"

"Gilbert! Vincent! I'm so sorry for leaving you two like that!" Jack cried as he ran to his servants and brought them into a hug. "I truly have been a bad master!"

"Master… I…I'm so glad you are alright!" Gilbert sniffed and Jack smiled, rubbing the boys' hair before turning to Raymond, who looked decidedly annoyed at the scene of affection.

"Once again, Raymond, thank you for everything."

"If you want to thank me Vessalius, learn to be observant and stopped being an idiot," the duke turned his head away, noticing his guards coming towards them. The three Nightray guards bowed to their master, Jack's belongings in their hands.

Jack took back his bags and gave a brilliant smile to the guards, who all turned away with a reddened face. "Thank you men too, for watching over my servants."

"You're welcome Lord Vessalius," the leader of the guards bowed respectfully to the younger man before Raymond waved them off with an irritated look, telling them to go elsewhere for a while. Jack passed some of the bags to Vincent and Gilbert, who accepted them readily before turning to the duke who gave a sigh once more.

Why is it every time I am with this Vessalius that I will sigh so much… To think Baskerville-sama is truly friends with this idiotic smiling man… Raymond glowered in his mind before finding Jack staring at him bemusedly.

"We will be on our way now Raymond, I apologize for what happen just now. Send my regards to your lovely sisters and Edmund," Jack gave a slight bow and a wave before walking away from the duke with his servants. The orange rose was tucked safely in the Vessalius's arm and the secret of the sender remained unsolved.

Raymond was about to go to his guards before noticing an orange petal on the ground. Picking it up and feeling the velvet surface, the duke's eyes narrowed in doubt before leaving the scene.

A pair of crimson eyes was watching from a corner before disappearing into the cloak of the shadows.

In the beautifully furnished guest bedroom of the royal palace in Sabire, Franca Ruja lay on the plush bed the King had provided for him for the past few weeks. Every single accommodation, entertainment and food was provided for to the highest quality, of course considering the services he had been giving to the royal family in their… partnership.

Any woman or man to his taste, the family would provide for him to ensure he was well taken care of.

But now, there was only one being that had exceeded his expectations.

Ruja gave a chuckle at the thought of that beautiful rose he saw once more in the Reinworth's ball, the youngest son of the Vessalius family. Such light… such beauty… the treasured 'Rose' of the Vessalius household that he had finally seen with his own eyes during his fifth and current visit to Sabire.

Putting the glass of wine on the bedside table, he brought up a stalk of blue rose that he had placed beside him, a treasure of his country, to his lips and caressed it with gentle kisses.

"Jack Vessalius…" he breathed, and his body burned. He had desired to get closer to the man... but there are always obstacles preventing him...

But it was alright for Franca Ruja. He had enough time to make his next moves.

If he had to pass through the Grim Reapers first before reaching to that rose...

A smile formed on his lips.

Yes…

It would be a fight worth savoring…